Curb box stabilizing and locating device and associated method

ABSTRACT

An underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device comprises a top surface having a through-hole defined therein and at least two legs, each of the legs being affixed to or integral with an opposing end of the top surface. The legs may project downward and outward from the top surface. The top surface may be planar.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to pending U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/852,419, filed May 24, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the placement and locating of underground utility lines.

BACKGROUND

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical configuration of the infrastructure in place to supply natural gas to an individual customer (the infrastructure to supply water is very similar). A relatively large main pipeline 10 typically runs several feet underground, often beneath a street. For each customer, a branch pipeline 12 runs from the main pipeline 10 to the customer's building (which may be, e.g., a house or commercial or industrial building).

The branch pipeline has a curb valve 14 to enable the gas supply from the main pipeline 10 to the customer's building to be shut off if needed. Because the branch pipeline 12 and the curb valve 14 are several feet underground, there needs to be a means of accessing the curb valve 14 from above ground quickly without digging. A conventional curb box 16, shown in FIG. 2, enables such access to the curb valve. The curb box 16 is an elongated generally cylindrical pipe, often having an adjustable length. The curb box 16 has a main body 18 with an upper end 20 that may be flared and a lower end 24 that has arched openings 26 on opposing sides. The upper end 20 has a removable cover 22 that may be constructed of metal to aid in locating the curb box if the cover is hidden by grass, dirt, etc.

When the branch pipeline 12 and curb valve 14 are installed and before the installation trench is backfilled, the curb box 16 is positioned vertically over the curb valve 14 with the curb valve 14 between the arched openings 26 and with the sections of the branch pipeline 12 that extend from opposing sides of the curb valve 14 passing through a corresponding one of the opposing arched openings 26. The height of the curb box 16 is selected such that when the installation trench is backfilled the cover 22 is at ground level (i.e., at grade). In this regard, after installation an elongated valve wrench may be inserted down into the curb box 16 to reach the curb valve 14 to open or close the valve and start or stop the flow of gas through the branch pipeline 12.

When it becomes necessary to access the curb valve 14 after it has been installed, it can often be difficult to locate the curb box 16 and therefore the curb valve 14 for a variety of reasons. First, the location of the curb box may have been incorrectly recorded by the installers. Second, the curb box may have tilted over when the installation trench was backfilled such that that the top end of the curb box is below grade. Third, the metal cover of the curb box may have been dislodged and lost such that the curb box cannot be located using a metal detector. If the curb box cannot be readily located, it is then typically necessary to dig a trench across much of the yard to locate the curb box. This trenching is time-consuming and therefore expensive to perform and then it is time-consuming and therefore expensive to restore the yard to its original condition (e.g., backfill and reseed) after the curb box has been located.

What is needed is a reliable device and method for locating an underground curb box and thereby locating a curb valve.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one embodiment of the invention, an underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device comprises a top surface having a through-hole defined therein and at least two legs, each of the legs being affixed to or integral with an opposing end of the top surface.

The legs may project downward from the top surface.

The legs may project downward and outward from the top surface.

The top surface may be planar.

The top surface may be curved. The legs may be curved, and a curvature of the legs may match a curvature of the top surface.

In alternative embodiments of the invention, a method of installing an underground component access tube comprises the following steps: positioning an underground component access tube such that an arched lower end of the underground component access tube is positioned over an underground component and such that a top end of the underground component access tube is at or near ground level; backfilling soil around the underground component access tube up to a first level that is lower than ground level; positioning an underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device such that the underground component access tube protrudes through a hole defined in a top surface of the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device; and backfilling soil around the underground component access tube and the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device up to ground level.

The underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device may comprise at least two legs, each of the legs being affixed to or integral with an opposing end of the top surface. The legs may project downward from the top surface. The method may further comprise pushing the legs of the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device into the soil backfilled to the first level when positioning the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device.

The legs of the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device may project upward from the top surface. Backfilling soil around the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device up to ground level may comprise backfilling soil around the legs of the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale. The following detailed description of the disclosure will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. It should be understood, however, that the disclosure is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a simplified overhead view of a typical natural gas delivery infrastructure installation.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a conventional curb box.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are, respectively, perspective and side views of a curb box locating device, in accordance with embodiments of the present location.

FIG. 4 is a simplified underground side view of a natural gas delivery infrastructure installation using the curb box locating device of FIGS. 3A and 3B.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a curb box locating device, in accordance with alternative embodiments of the present location.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “lower,” “bottom,” “upper,” “top,” and the like designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “inwardly,” “outwardly,” “upwardly,” “downwardly,” and the like refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the device, and designated parts thereof, in accordance with the present disclosure. Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms “a,” “an” and “the” are not limited to one element, but instead should be read as meaning “at least one.” The terminology includes the words noted above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

Embodiments of the invention comprise a curb box stabilizing and locating device and a method of installing a curb box using a curb box stabilizing and locating device. Devices of embodiments of the invention can be installed with and therefore used to stabilize and locate curb boxes and other similar items. Referring now to FIGS. 3A and 3B, a curb box stabilizing and locating device 30 comprises a generally planar top surface 32 having a hole 34 defined therein. The hole size may vary but the hole is typically sized to receive a curb box of one or more different diameters with sufficient clearance such that the curb box is readily inserted through the hole 34 but with a small enough clearance such that side-to-side movement of the curb box is somewhat limited (when installed as described further below). The illustrated exemplary curb box stabilizing and locating device 30 has a 3.5 inch diameter hole, such that the curb box stabilizing and locating device 30 is designed to be used with a curb box having a 3.0 inch diameter main body. While the term “curb box stabilizing and locating device” is used herein to describe embodiments of the invention, the device of embodiments of the invention may be installed with and therefore used to stabilize and locate similar items other than curb boxes. For example, the device of embodiments of the invention may be installed with and therefore used to stabilize and locate valve boxes, gate boxes, test wire boxes, or the like. Valve boxes, curb boxes, test wire boxes, and the like may be generically termed “underground component access tubes,” as such devices enable a user on the surface to access an underground valve or the like. Thus, the term “curb box stabilizing and locating device” as used herein is intended to encompass devices as described herein that are used to stabilize and locate any elongated, substantially vertically buried object. Such curb box stabilizing and locating devices are also referred herein generically as “underground component access tube stabilizing and locating devices.”

On opposing sides of the top surface 32 are downwardly projecting legs 36. The legs 36 help maintain the position of the curb box locating device 30 after it is buried in the ground. The legs 36 may comprise a single planar panel on each side of the top surface 32, optionally with a cutout dividing the panel into two legs as illustrated. The cutout may have any desired shape, such as triangular (as shown), square, rectangular, or semi-circular. Alternatively, the legs may comprise one or more independent legs on each side of the top surface 32, such independent legs having any suitable shape, size, or configuration. The legs 36 may be at any suitable angle relative to the top surface 32, such as 90 degrees or 100 degrees (as shown in the figures). The legs may alternatively project upward from the top surface (i.e., the curb box locating device 30 may be installed upside-down). Alternatively, legs may be in place on one, three, or all four sides of the top surface. The legs may be integral with the top surface (e.g., the top surface and the legs are constructed from a single piece of material) (as shown in the figures), or the legs may be constructed separately from the top surface and affixed to the top surface.

In alternative embodiments of the invention, the top surface of the curb box locating device (or the entire device) may be non-planar. For example, a curb box locating device may comprise a semi-cylinder (laid on its side when installed) or a hemisphere. Such non-planar device may not comprise defined legs, as the curved surfaces may provide the same functionality as the legs of the planar device. Such an alternative embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 5. The curb box locating device 50 of FIG. 5 comprises a curved top surface 52 having a hole 54 defined therein. The hole size may vary but the hole is typically sized to receive a curb box of one or more different diameters with sufficient clearance such that the curb box is readily inserted through the hole 54 but with a small enough clearance such that side-to-side movement of the curb box is somewhat limited (when installed as described further below). On opposing sides of the top surface 52 are downwardly projecting curved legs 56. As illustrated, the top surface and legs comprise one contiguous curved surface.

The curb box locating device of embodiments of the invention may be constructed of any suitable metal that is readily detectable by a metal detector. In one exemplary embodiment, the curb box locating device is constructed of galvanized steel.

In addition to the curb box locating device described above, other embodiments of the invention comprise a method of installing a curb box using a curb box stabilizing and locating device as described herein. FIG. 4 is a simplified underground side view of a natural gas delivery infrastructure installation using the curb box stabilizing and locating device of embodiments of the invention. The main pipeline 10, branch pipeline 12, and curb valve 14 are conventionally installed, and the curb box 16 positioned conventionally. Soil is backfilled around the curb box 16 to about 6-8 inches (typically, although this may vary) below the final grade. The curb box stabilizing and locating device 30 is slid over the curb box 16 down to the level of the partially backfilled soil (depth B in FIG. 4). The legs 36 of the curb box stabilizing and locating device 30 may need to be pushed down into the soil, or some soil may need to be cleared away to enable the legs 36 to protrude downward as illustrated. Once the curb box stabilizing and locating device 30 is in place, the rest of the soil may be backfilled around the curb box 16 and the curb box stabilizing and locating device 30.

It is generally desirable that the curb box stabilizing and locating device 30 be located about 6-8 inches below final grade to enable the curb box stabilizing and locating device 30 to be readily located using a metal detector. Since the depth of the branch pipeline 12 (depth A in FIG. 4) may vary, the distance between the branch pipeline 12 and the curb box locating device 30 (dimension C in FIG. 4) may vary.

FIG. 4 illustrates the curb box stabilizing and locating device 30 oriented such that the sides having the legs 36 are in line with the branch pipeline 12. Other orientations may be used, such as rotating the curb box locating device 30 ninety degrees from what is shown in FIG. 4.

Using a curb box stabilizing and locating device as described herein has many benefits over a convention curb box installation. Having a curb box stabilizing and locating device in place provides a relatively large piece of metal at the location of the curb box to enable the curb box to be readily located using a metal detector even if the curb box cover is missing. Additionally, having a curb box stabilizing and locating device in place helps maintain the verticality of the curb box by limiting side-to-side movement of the curb box. Further, having a curb box stabilizing and locating device in place helps provides a physical barrier to help prevent damage to the curb valve if digging occurs in the area around the curb valve.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. 

That which is claimed:
 1. An underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device comprising: a top surface having a through-hole defined therein; and at least two legs, each of the legs being affixed to or integral with an opposing end of the top surface.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the legs project downward from the top surface.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the legs project downward and outward from the top surface.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the top surface is planar.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the top surface is curved.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the legs are curved; and wherein a curvature of the legs matches a curvature of the top surface.
 7. A method of installing an underground component access tube, the method comprising: positioning an underground component access tube such that an arched lower end of the underground component access tube is positioned over an underground component and such that a top end of the underground component access tube is at or near ground level; backfilling soil around the underground component access tube up to a first level that is lower than ground level; positioning an underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device such that the underground component access tube protrudes through a hole defined in a top surface of the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device; and backfilling soil around the underground component access tube and the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device up to ground level.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device comprises at least two legs, each of the legs being affixed to or integral with an opposing end of the top surface.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the legs project downward from the top surface.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising pushing the legs of the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device into the soil backfilled to the first level when positioning the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the legs project upward from the top surface.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein backfilling soil around the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device up to ground level further comprises backfilling soil around the legs of the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device.
 13. The method of claim 7, wherein the top surface of the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device is planar.
 14. The method of claim 7, wherein the top surface of the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device is curved.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the legs of the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device are curved; and wherein a curvature of the legs of the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device matches a curvature of the top surface of the underground component access tube stabilizing and locating device. 